Indian Orthodox Church
Encyclopedia
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, also known as the Indian Orthodox Church, is an autocephalous
Oriental Orthodox church centred in the Indian state of Kerala
. It is one of the churches of India's Saint Thomas Christian community, which traces its origins to the evangelical activity of Thomas the Apostle
in the 1st century
. The church is headed by the autonomous Catholicos of the East
, but maintains some ties with the Syriac Orthodox Church
and its primate, the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch.
Historically, the Saint Thomas Christians were united in leadership and liturgy, and were part of the Church of the East
centred in Persia. From the 16th century the Portuguese Jesuits attempted to forcefully bring the community fully into the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church. Resentment of these measures led the majority of the community to join the archdeacon
, Thomas
, in swearing never to submit to the Portuguese in the Coonan Cross Oath
in 1653. The part of the church that followed Thomas is known as the Malankara Church
.
Following the arrival of the Bishop Gregorios Abdul Jaleel of Jerusalem
, Archdeacon Thomas forged a relationship with the Syriac Orthodox Church
and gradually adopted West Syrian liturgy
and practices. Over time, however, relations soured between the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchs and the local hierarchy, particularly after Patriarch Ignatius Peter IV
(reigned 1872—1894) began demanding registered deeds for the transfer of properties. In 1912, a synod led by the Patriarch Ignatius Abdul Masih II
, who had been controversially deposed by the Ottoman
government, consecrated Evanios as Catholicos of the East
, under the name Baselios Paulose I. The faction that supported Baselios Paulose became what is now the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, while those who supported the Patriarch became the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church
. The two groups were briefly reunited between 1958 and 1975, but attempts by church leaders and two Supreme Court
decisions were unable to resolve the contention, and the two churches operate independently today.
The church is theologically and traditionally a part of the Oriental Orthodox communion of churches. The Indian Orthodox Church accepts the Alexandrian Christology
, as does the Coptic Orthodox Church, and uses the Malankara Rite
, a local variant of the West Syrian Rite
.
is credited by tradition for founding the Indian Church in 52 AD[3] This Nasrani faith had many similarities to Judaism, see also Jewish Christianity, and, owing to the heritage of the Nasrani people, developed contacts with the Non-Chalcedonian
religious authorities of Edessa, Mesopotamia
.
The local church maintained its autonomous character under its local leader. When the Portuguese established themselves in India in the 16th century, they found the Church in Kerala as an administratively independent community. Following the arrival of Vasco de Gama in 1498, the Portuguese came to South India and established their political power there. They brought missionaries to carry out evangelistic work in order to establish churches in communion with Rome under the Portuguese patronage.
These missionaries were eager to bring the Indian Church under the Pope's control. They succeeded in their efforts in 1599 with the Synod of Diamper
.The representatives of various parishes who attended the assembly were forced by Portuguese authorities to accept the Papal authority.
Following the synod, the Indian Church was governed by Portuguese prelates. They were generally unwilling to respect the integrity of the local church. This resulted in disaffection which led to a general revolt in 1653 known as The Coonan Cross Oath
. This demanded administrative autonomy for the local church. Since it had no bishop, it faced serious difficulties.
It appealed to several eastern Christian churches for help. The Antiochene Syrian Patriarch responded and sent metropolitan
Mar Gregorios of Jerusalem
to India in 1665. He confirmed Marthoma I as the bishop and worked together with him to organize the Church.
Until 1599, it depended on the Assyrian (Persian) Church for prelates to ordain its priests.
The earliest historical documents that shows the existence of Archdeacons is around the year AD 800. The Nestorian Patriarch Timothy I (780–826) wrote to the Archdeacon ( Arken), the Head of the Faithful in India, about the right norms to be followed in the ordination of the priests, bishops, metropolitans and patriarch.
After the arrival of the Portuguese, the records next mention Archdeacons. The following is a known list of Archdeacons in Malankara:
by laying on of hands of 12 leading priests of the church.
The other section of Christians under the Roman Catholic Church did not consider Mar Thoma I
as a bishop due to the nature of his ordination and many of the revolters returned to the Roman Catholic Church between 1653 and 1665 as a result of the proselytization efforts of the Carmelite missionaries sent by Rome. To confirm this rank, the Metropolitan and leaders of the Church together wrote letters to the patriarchs of Alexandria and Antioch to send a higher authority. For twelve long years, there was no response from any of the churches. At long last, Mar Gregorios Abdul Jaleel
, the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem arrived in 1665 and regularised the ordination of Mar Thoma I
. This started the reign of the Marthoma Metropolitans of the Pakalomattom family in Malankara.
It was important for Mar Thoma IV
to monitor this bishop doctrinally and administratively. In confronting Mar Gabriel however, Marthoma IV found himself incompetent. He sent several appeals to the West Syrian Patriarch asking for help. But no reply or help came. He died on 24 March 1728 and is entombed at St.Mary’s Orthodox Church, Kandanadu.
Mar Dionysius(Marthoma VI) was captured by Thachil Matthoo Tharakan a prominent Roman Catholic St. Thomas Christian and forced to conduct a Latin Catholic mass. But he escaped because of a Hindu revolt led by Velu Thampi Dalawa
. Died on 8 April 1808 and laid to rest at St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral, Puthencavu
.
Until Marthoma IX, all Metropolitans came from the Pakalomattom family. The rise of Pulikottil Joseph Ramban changed this and the people identified him as their new leader. With him the tradition of Marthoma Metrans from Pakalomattom family came to an end.
The new bishops after Marthoma IX came from different families and they came to be known more popularly with the title Malankara Metropolitans rather than as Mar Thoma. Malankara Metropolitans started to be recognised by the secular rulers of Travancore and Cochin kingdoms, by a Royal Proclamation. Nevertheless the title Marthoma continues to be used by the Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
and in the next year, Anglican missionaries arrived to join this institution. Soon, however, the missionaries began to impose Protestant doctrines on the seminarians. As a result the Malankara church discontinued the association.
This eventually gave rise to the division of the community into three bodies.
The London Missionary Service was active in India. Bishop Norton inaugurated the first Anglican Church in Kerala
at Thalavady in the house of one Itty Matthan Panickar. This church was later known as Church Missionary Society and after Indian Independence it became the Church of South India
.
In 1825 to 1855 H.H.Philipose mar Dionisius 4th [Cheppad mar Dionisius ]lead the Malankara Church.
and the temporal head over church assets is the Malankara Metropolitan
. Since 1934, both the titles vest in one person. The official title of the head of the Church is the "Catholicos of the East and the Malankara Metropolitan
". The present Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan
is Baselios MarThoma Paulose II, who was enthroned on 1 November 2010, at Parumala Church by the Holy Synod. Paulose II is the 112th Catholicos of the East in the lineage of Apostle Thomas; 7th Catholicos after its re-instatement in India and 20th Malankara Metropolitan.
The church accepts only the first three Ecumenical Synods
like all other Oriental Orthodox Churches.
The church primarily uses the liturgy of Saint James, as does its sister church, the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch. The Church in India was connected to the Church of East through the Catholicos of the East, existed in Edessa
, Selucia, Tigris
and Mosul
in various intervals. Today the Church conducts liturgy in West Syriac, Malayalam, Hindi
, and English.
The church has theological seminaries at Kottayam
and Nagpur
. The Church has dioceses and churches in most parts of India as well as in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Western Europe, Africa, Persian Gulf
nations, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.
The name Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church refers to St.Thomas Christians of India that come under the Catholicate of the East whose Supreme Head is His Holiness The Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan, with its headquarters at Devalokam, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
. The East Syrian (Persian), Byzantine
, Armenian
, Georgian
, Maronite liturgies also belong to the same liturgical family. In the first half of the 5th century, the Antiochene Church adopted the anaphora of Jerusalem, known under the name of St James, the disciple. In the 4th and 5th centuries, the liturgical language of Jerusalem and Antioch was Greek. Therefore, the original form of St James liturgy was composed in Greek.
Following the Council of Chalcedon
(451), the Eastern Church was divided into two, one group accepting the council and the other opposing it. Both groups continued to use the Greek version of St James. The Byzantine emperor Justin
(518–527) expelled the non-Chalcedonians from Antioch and they took refuge in the Syriac speaking Mesopotamia
on the Roman-Persian Border (modern Eastern Syria, Iraq and South East Turkey). Gradually, the Antiochene liturgical rites were translated into Syriac. New elements such as Syriac hymns were introduced into it.
Mar Gregorios of Jerusalem
came to Malankara in 1665 and introduced Syriac Orthodox liturgical rites. The most striking characteristic of the Antiochene liturgy is the large number of anaphoras
(Order of the celebration of the Eucharist). About 80 are known and about a dozen are used in India. All of them have been composed following the model of Liturgy of St James
.
St.Thomas established the church in India and is recognized as its first Head or Catholicos.
The reign of the Archdeacons started from the 4th century and lasted until the 16th century. The third stage started when the archdeacon was elevated to the position of a Bishop by the community with the name Marthoma I in 1653. Since then the head of the community was the Marthoma Metrans and later the position was developed to Malankara Metropolitan with more recognition.
In 1912, the Catholicate of the East was relocated to India, and Baselios Paulose I was seated on the Honorary Apostolic Throne of St.Thomas as the Catholicos of the East.
The Headquarters of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, named Devalokam, is located at Kottayam, in Kerala.
It is the official headquarters of the Catholicos Of The East who reigns on the Supreme Throne of St. Thomas, the Apostle, and was established on 31 December 1951.
The new Aramana which was built in 1961 was inaugurated by the visiting Armenian Catholicos Vazgen I
.
A portion of the holy relics of St. Thomas, the Apostle of India and Founder of the Church, is kept in the Catholicate Chapel. The mortal remains of Baselious Geevarghese II, Baselious Augen I, Baselious Marthoma Mathews I, and Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios Metropolitan are entombed in this Chapel.
and Archbishops in Selucia-Ctesiphon. In 410 AD, Isaac first used the title Catholicos. Since then, the Catholicos has claimed jurisdiction over all Christians of the East outside the Roman Empire.
This Catholicate resided in Persia until the end of the 19th century. In 1912 , the senior Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch
relocated the Catholicate to India. Catholicos Didymos I is the 111th Catholicos sitting on the throne of Saint Thomas. The Orthodox Catholicos is known also known as Maphrian
to distinguish this church from the schismatic lineage formed in the latter half of the 5th century due to Nestorian influence.
To see the lineage of Catholicos: List of Catholicos of the East
.
Various theologians were involved in negotiations between the Oriental Orthodox and the Byzantine church
es. The Indian Orthodox Church participated in the Ecumenical Council of Oriental Orthodox Churches held in Addis Ababa, in 1965.
Other organizations to which the church belongs are
Autocephaly
Autocephaly , in hierarchical Christian churches and especially Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches, is the status of a hierarchical church whose head bishop does not report to any higher-ranking bishop...
Oriental Orthodox church centred in the Indian state of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. It is one of the churches of India's Saint Thomas Christian community, which traces its origins to the evangelical activity of Thomas the Apostle
Thomas the Apostle
Thomas the Apostle, also called Doubting Thomas or Didymus was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is best known for questioning Jesus' resurrection when first told of it, then proclaiming "My Lord and my God" on seeing Jesus in . He was perhaps the only Apostle who went outside the Roman...
in the 1st century
Christianity in the 1st century
The earliest followers of Jesus composed an apocalyptic, Jewish sect, which historians refer to as Jewish Christianity. The Apostles and others following the Great Commission's decree to spread the teachings of Jesus to "all nations," had great success spreading the religion to gentiles. Peter,...
. The church is headed by the autonomous Catholicos of the East
Catholicos of the East
Catholicos of the East is an ecclesiastical title used historically by the Church of the East and the Syriac Orthodox Church, and now used in successor churches. The title Catholicos, or "universal leader", is used in several Eastern Christian churches and implies a degree of sovereignty and...
, but maintains some ties with the Syriac Orthodox Church
Syriac Orthodox Church
The Syriac Orthodox Church; is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church based in the Eastern Mediterranean, with members spread throughout the world. The Syriac Orthodox Church claims to derive its origin from one of the first Christian communities, established in Antioch by the Apostle St....
and its primate, the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch.
Historically, the Saint Thomas Christians were united in leadership and liturgy, and were part of the Church of the East
Church of the East
The Church of the East tāʾ d-Maḏnḥāʾ), also known as the Nestorian Church, is a Christian church, part of the Syriac tradition of Eastern Christianity. Originally the church of the Persian Sassanid Empire, it quickly spread widely through Asia...
centred in Persia. From the 16th century the Portuguese Jesuits attempted to forcefully bring the community fully into the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church. Resentment of these measures led the majority of the community to join the archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
, Thomas
Mar Thoma I
-See also:*Indian Orthodox Church*Jacobite Syrian Church*Mar Thoma Church*Malankara Church*Dutch East India Company*Syrian Malabar Nasrani-Further reading:...
, in swearing never to submit to the Portuguese in the Coonan Cross Oath
Coonan Cross Oath
The Coonan Cross Oath , taken on January 3, 1653, was a public avowal by members of the Saint Thomas Christian community of Kerala, India that they would not submit to Portuguese dominance in ecclesiastical and secular life...
in 1653. The part of the church that followed Thomas is known as the Malankara Church
Malankara Church
The Malankara Church is the church of the Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala, India, with particular emphasis on the part of the community that joined Archdeacon Mar Thoma in swearing to resist the authority of the Portuguese Padroado in 1653...
.
Following the arrival of the Bishop Gregorios Abdul Jaleel of Jerusalem
Jerusalem in Christianity
For Christians, Jerusalem's place in the ministry of Jesus and the Apostolic Age gives it great importance, in addition to its place in the Old Testament, the Hebrew Bible.-Jerusalem in the New Testament and early Christianity:...
, Archdeacon Thomas forged a relationship with the Syriac Orthodox Church
Syriac Orthodox Church
The Syriac Orthodox Church; is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church based in the Eastern Mediterranean, with members spread throughout the world. The Syriac Orthodox Church claims to derive its origin from one of the first Christian communities, established in Antioch by the Apostle St....
and gradually adopted West Syrian liturgy
West Syrian Rite
The West Syrian Rite, also known as the Syrian Rite or the Syro-Antiochene Rite, is a Christian liturgical rite chiefly practiced in the Syriac Orthodox Church and churches related to or descended from it. It is part of the liturgical family known as the Antiochene Rite, which originated in the...
and practices. Over time, however, relations soured between the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchs and the local hierarchy, particularly after Patriarch Ignatius Peter IV
Ignatius Peter IV
Moran Mor Ignatius Peter IV or Ignatius Pathros IV , was the 116th Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and the head of the Syriac Orthodox Church...
(reigned 1872—1894) began demanding registered deeds for the transfer of properties. In 1912, a synod led by the Patriarch Ignatius Abdul Masih II
Ignatius Abdul Masih II
Mor Ignatius Abdul Masih II was the 117th Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and the head of the Syriac Orthodox Church, reigning from 1895 until his deposition and excommunication in 1905. The excommunication, which was carried out by the Ottoman government rather than the Church itself, was...
, who had been controversially deposed by the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
government, consecrated Evanios as Catholicos of the East
Catholicos of the East
Catholicos of the East is an ecclesiastical title used historically by the Church of the East and the Syriac Orthodox Church, and now used in successor churches. The title Catholicos, or "universal leader", is used in several Eastern Christian churches and implies a degree of sovereignty and...
, under the name Baselios Paulose I. The faction that supported Baselios Paulose became what is now the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, while those who supported the Patriarch became the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church
Jacobite Syrian Christian Church
The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church is part of the Syriac Orthodox Church, located in Kerala, India. It recognizes the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, currently Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, as its supreme head. It functions as a largely autonomous archdiocese within the church, under the authority...
. The two groups were briefly reunited between 1958 and 1975, but attempts by church leaders and two Supreme Court
Supreme Court of India
The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India...
decisions were unable to resolve the contention, and the two churches operate independently today.
The church is theologically and traditionally a part of the Oriental Orthodox communion of churches. The Indian Orthodox Church accepts the Alexandrian Christology
Christology
Christology is the field of study within Christian theology which is primarily concerned with the nature and person of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament. Primary considerations include the relationship of Jesus' nature and person with the nature...
, as does the Coptic Orthodox Church, and uses the Malankara Rite
Malankara Rite
The Malankara Rite or Syro-Malankara Rite is the form of the West Syrian liturgical rite practiced by several churches of the Saint Thomas Christian tradition in southern India...
, a local variant of the West Syrian Rite
West Syrian Rite
The West Syrian Rite, also known as the Syrian Rite or the Syro-Antiochene Rite, is a Christian liturgical rite chiefly practiced in the Syriac Orthodox Church and churches related to or descended from it. It is part of the liturgical family known as the Antiochene Rite, which originated in the...
.
First 17 centuries
Thomas the ApostleThomas the Apostle
Thomas the Apostle, also called Doubting Thomas or Didymus was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is best known for questioning Jesus' resurrection when first told of it, then proclaiming "My Lord and my God" on seeing Jesus in . He was perhaps the only Apostle who went outside the Roman...
is credited by tradition for founding the Indian Church in 52 AD[3] This Nasrani faith had many similarities to Judaism, see also Jewish Christianity, and, owing to the heritage of the Nasrani people, developed contacts with the Non-Chalcedonian
Non-Chalcedonian
Non-Chalcedonianism is the view of those churches that accepted the First Council of Ephesus of 431, but, for varying reasons, did not accept allegiance to the Council of Chalcedon following it in 451. The most substantial Non-Chalcedonian tradition is known as Oriental Orthodoxy...
religious authorities of Edessa, Mesopotamia
Edessa, Mesopotamia
Edessa is the Greek name of an Aramaic town in northern Mesopotamia, as refounded by Seleucus I Nicator. For the modern history of the city, see Şanlıurfa.-Names:...
.
The local church maintained its autonomous character under its local leader. When the Portuguese established themselves in India in the 16th century, they found the Church in Kerala as an administratively independent community. Following the arrival of Vasco de Gama in 1498, the Portuguese came to South India and established their political power there. They brought missionaries to carry out evangelistic work in order to establish churches in communion with Rome under the Portuguese patronage.
These missionaries were eager to bring the Indian Church under the Pope's control. They succeeded in their efforts in 1599 with the Synod of Diamper
Synod of Diamper
The Synod of Diamper, held at Udayamperoor/Diamper, is a diocesan synod by which Latin usages were formally adopted by the Christians of Saint Thomas. It was convened on June 20, 1599, under the leadership of Aleixo de Menezes, Archbishop of Goa. Archdeacon George was forced to comply with the...
.The representatives of various parishes who attended the assembly were forced by Portuguese authorities to accept the Papal authority.
Following the synod, the Indian Church was governed by Portuguese prelates. They were generally unwilling to respect the integrity of the local church. This resulted in disaffection which led to a general revolt in 1653 known as The Coonan Cross Oath
Coonan Cross Oath
The Coonan Cross Oath , taken on January 3, 1653, was a public avowal by members of the Saint Thomas Christian community of Kerala, India that they would not submit to Portuguese dominance in ecclesiastical and secular life...
. This demanded administrative autonomy for the local church. Since it had no bishop, it faced serious difficulties.
It appealed to several eastern Christian churches for help. The Antiochene Syrian Patriarch responded and sent metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
Mar Gregorios of Jerusalem
Jerusalem in Christianity
For Christians, Jerusalem's place in the ministry of Jesus and the Apostolic Age gives it great importance, in addition to its place in the Old Testament, the Hebrew Bible.-Jerusalem in the New Testament and early Christianity:...
to India in 1665. He confirmed Marthoma I as the bishop and worked together with him to organize the Church.
Until 1599, it depended on the Assyrian (Persian) Church for prelates to ordain its priests.
Administration
Archdeacon or Arkadiakon in Malayalam was “the prince and head of the Christians of Saint Thomas” and had such titles as Archdeacon and Gate of All India, Governor of India. He was the temporal ruler and administrator of the Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala. The Archdeacon was more of a secular ruler, having sanction of local Hindu rulers and he is said to have carried around a small army of few hundred Syrian Christian soldiers.The earliest historical documents that shows the existence of Archdeacons is around the year AD 800. The Nestorian Patriarch Timothy I (780–826) wrote to the Archdeacon ( Arken), the Head of the Faithful in India, about the right norms to be followed in the ordination of the priests, bishops, metropolitans and patriarch.
After the arrival of the Portuguese, the records next mention Archdeacons. The following is a known list of Archdeacons in Malankara:
- Nestorian Patriarch Timothy I calls Archdeacon (Arken), head of faithful of India c.780–826
- Metropolitan Mar John appoints George Pakalomattam (Ittikuriath) as Archdeacon 1502
- Followed by Archdeacons Jacob and Alexander according to tradition (Dates unknown)
- Archdeacon George of Christ (Mentioned in 1552 documents onwards) c.1552–1585
- Archdeacon John c.1585–1591
- Archdeacon Jacob appointed by Mar Simon c. 1584–1596
- Archdeacon George of the Cross appointed by Archbishop Mar Abraham 1593–1640
- Archdeacon Thomas appointed by elders of Malankara. In 1653, after the Coonan Cross OathCoonan Cross OathThe Coonan Cross Oath , taken on January 3, 1653, was a public avowal by members of the Saint Thomas Christian community of Kerala, India that they would not submit to Portuguese dominance in ecclesiastical and secular life...
, Archdeacon Thomas was consecrated as Bishop Mar Thoma I, thus the role was changed and his line continued until Mar Thoma VIII in 1815 among the Malankara Orthodox Syrians.
Reign of the Marthoma Metropolitans (1653–1816)
In 1653, following the Coonen Cross Oath the Malankara Church felt the need to have an indigenous bishop. The parish elders (Idavaka Mooppens) of the church met together and elected Archdeacon Thomas as their leader. This was followed by a general meeting at Allangad on 22 May 1653 where Archdeacon Thomas was elevated to the status of bishop with the title Mar Thoma IMar Thoma I
-See also:*Indian Orthodox Church*Jacobite Syrian Church*Mar Thoma Church*Malankara Church*Dutch East India Company*Syrian Malabar Nasrani-Further reading:...
by laying on of hands of 12 leading priests of the church.
The other section of Christians under the Roman Catholic Church did not consider Mar Thoma I
Mar Thoma I
-See also:*Indian Orthodox Church*Jacobite Syrian Church*Mar Thoma Church*Malankara Church*Dutch East India Company*Syrian Malabar Nasrani-Further reading:...
as a bishop due to the nature of his ordination and many of the revolters returned to the Roman Catholic Church between 1653 and 1665 as a result of the proselytization efforts of the Carmelite missionaries sent by Rome. To confirm this rank, the Metropolitan and leaders of the Church together wrote letters to the patriarchs of Alexandria and Antioch to send a higher authority. For twelve long years, there was no response from any of the churches. At long last, Mar Gregorios Abdul Jaleel
Mar Gregorios Abdul Jaleel
Mor Gregorios Abdul Jaleel Bawa was an ethnic Assyrian Syriac Orthodox Bishop of Jerusalem from 1664 until his death. He is chiefly remembered for his 1665 mission to India, in which he established ties between the newly-independent Malankara Church and the Syriac Orthodox church. He is venerated...
, the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem arrived in 1665 and regularised the ordination of Mar Thoma I
Mar Thoma I
-See also:*Indian Orthodox Church*Jacobite Syrian Church*Mar Thoma Church*Malankara Church*Dutch East India Company*Syrian Malabar Nasrani-Further reading:...
. This started the reign of the Marthoma Metropolitans of the Pakalomattom family in Malankara.
- Mar Thoma IMar Thoma I-See also:*Indian Orthodox Church*Jacobite Syrian Church*Mar Thoma Church*Malankara Church*Dutch East India Company*Syrian Malabar Nasrani-Further reading:...
(1653–1670) – In 1653, Kuravilangad Parampil Thomas of Pakalomattam family was consecrated with the title Marthoma I by the elders of the Malankara church. He was also the Archdeacon of the time, the leader of the entire Saint Thomas Christians. In 1665, his ordination was regularised by the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Mar Gregorios of Jerusalem. Marthoma I survived a number of assassination attempts by those under the control of the church in Rome. He died on 25 April 1670 and was interred in Angamaly Martha Mariam Church.
- Mar Thoma IIMar Thoma II-Further reading:*#Mathew, N.M. ‘’Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram’’, , Volume 1., Volume II . Volume III Pub. E.J.Institute, Thiruvalla...
(1670–1686) – Before his demise in 1670, Mar Thoma IMar Thoma I-See also:*Indian Orthodox Church*Jacobite Syrian Church*Mar Thoma Church*Malankara Church*Dutch East India Company*Syrian Malabar Nasrani-Further reading:...
ordained his nephew as Mar Thoma IIMar Thoma II-Further reading:*#Mathew, N.M. ‘’Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram’’, , Volume 1., Volume II . Volume III Pub. E.J.Institute, Thiruvalla...
. According to a local tradition once the people of Niranam were suffering from severe drought and they appealed to Mar Thoma II for his special prayers. They believe that as a result of his prayers the village received plenty of showers. Mar Thoma II led the church for 16 years and died in 1686. His mortal remains were entombed in the St.Marys Orthodox Church, Niranam and every year his memorial day is celebrated on 16 April. During his time Eldho Mor BaseliosEldho Mor BaseliosEldho Mor Baselios or Maphryono Mor Baselios Yeldho or Eldho Bava , was born in a village called Kooded near Mosul in Iraq where Morthsmooni and her 7 children suffered martyrdom...
and Hidayathullah Mar Ivanios from Syria visited Malankara.
- Mar Thoma IIIMar Thoma IIIMar Thoma III was the third metropolitan bishop who sat on Malankara throne and led the Malankara Church from 1686 to 1688. His leadership was only for a short time. With great respect, people called him Valiappooppen .-Introduction:...
(1686–1688) – Consecrated by Mar Ivanios Hidayathullah (from Antioch). He died on 21 April 1688. He was buried at St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Kadampanad, Adoor.
- Mar Thoma IVMar Thoma IV-Further reading:*#Juhanon Marthoma Metropolitan, The Most Rev. Dr. . Christianity in India and a Brief History of the Marthoma Syrian Church.. Pub: K.M. Cherian....
(1688–1728) – Consecrated by Mar Ivanios Hidayathullah. He ruled the Church for four decades. The East Syrian Catholicos-Patriarch of Babylon, hearing of members lost to the Roman Catholics, sent Mar Gabriel to Kerala to try to reclaim them.
It was important for Mar Thoma IV
Mar Thoma IV
-Further reading:*#Juhanon Marthoma Metropolitan, The Most Rev. Dr. . Christianity in India and a Brief History of the Marthoma Syrian Church.. Pub: K.M. Cherian....
to monitor this bishop doctrinally and administratively. In confronting Mar Gabriel however, Marthoma IV found himself incompetent. He sent several appeals to the West Syrian Patriarch asking for help. But no reply or help came. He died on 24 March 1728 and is entombed at St.Mary’s Orthodox Church, Kandanadu.
- Mar Thoma VMar Thoma V-See also:* Indian Orthodox Church*Jacobite Syrian Church* Mar Thoma Church* List of Catholicoi of the East and Malankara Metropolitans-Further reading:...
(1728–1765) – Consecrated by Marthoma IV. In 1752 when Mar Baselios and Mar Gregorios came to Malankara, they insisted that he should receive their Ordination but he refused to comply fearing Antiochean domination. Not only that, he consecrated his successor Mar Thoma VIMar Thoma VI-See also:* Indian Orthodox Church*Jacobite Syrian Church* Mar Thoma Church* Syrian Malabar Nasrani* Saint Thomas Christians* Christianity in India* List of Catholicoi of the East and Malankara Metropolitans* List of Syrian Malabar Nasranis* Mar Thoma V...
without any assistance from foreign bishops, thus severing all allegiance to foreign bishops.Until Mar Thoma V, Malankara Church followed almost entirely East Syriac language, liturgy and practices. He died on 8 May 1765 and was buried at St. Marys Orthodox Church, Niranam.
- Mar Thoma VIMar Thoma VI-See also:* Indian Orthodox Church*Jacobite Syrian Church* Mar Thoma Church* Syrian Malabar Nasrani* Saint Thomas Christians* Christianity in India* List of Catholicoi of the East and Malankara Metropolitans* List of Syrian Malabar Nasranis* Mar Thoma V...
(1765–1808) – (1765–1808) Consecrated by Marthoma V. On June 1770, to avoid a split in the church, he accepted re-consecration and the title Dionysius from Antiochan bishops. He also agreed with Mar Ivanios the visiting West Syrian bishop to follow in his Church certain traditions of the West Syrian Church along with the prevalent East Syrian traditions. The invasions of Tippu Sultan and devastation of many Christians and churches from Koodungallur to Kunnamkulam and forced conversions of Thomas Christians to Islam happened in this period.
Mar Dionysius(Marthoma VI) was captured by Thachil Matthoo Tharakan a prominent Roman Catholic St. Thomas Christian and forced to conduct a Latin Catholic mass. But he escaped because of a Hindu revolt led by Velu Thampi Dalawa
Velu Thampi Dalawa
Velayudhan Chempakaraman Thampi was the Dalawa or Prime Minister of the Indian kingdom of Travancore between 1802 and 1809 during the reign of His Highness Maharajah Bala Rama Varma Kulasekhara Perumal...
. Died on 8 April 1808 and laid to rest at St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral, Puthencavu
St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral, Puthencavu
St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral, Puthencavu is one of the important churches in South India, located at a village named Puthencavu , Alappuzha district in Kerala state of India...
.
- Mar Thoma VIIMar Thoma VII-See also:* Indian Orthodox Church*Jacobite Syrian Church* Mar Thoma Church* Syrian Malabar Nasrani* Saint Thomas Christians* Christianity in India* List of Catholicoi of the East and Malankara Metropolitans* List of Syrian Malabar Nasranis* Mar Thoma VI...
(1808–1809) – Consecrated by Marthoma VI in 1796. He had a very short span of life as metropolitan. The only events worth recording are the deposit of the Trust Fund money with the East India CompanyEast India CompanyThe East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
and withdrawal of the interest thereon for the first time. Marthoma died on 4 July 1809 and was interred at Kolencherry St. Peter's and St. Pauls Orthodox Church.
- Mar Thoma VIIIMar Thoma VIII-See also:* Indian Orthodox Church*Jacobite Syrian Church* Mar Thoma Church* List of Catholicoi of the East and Malankara Metropolitans-For further reading:...
(1809–1816) – Consecrated on 2 July 1809 by Marthoma VII. During his time Orthodox Pazhaya SeminaryOrthodox Pazhaya SeminaryThe Orthodox Pazhaya Seminary is a seminary of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. It was founded in 1815 by the priest-monk Ittoop Ramban to serve the then-unified Malankara Syrian Church. It was the first Syriac Orthodox school of theology in Asia....
or "Old Syrian Seminary" was opened and modern education began in Kerala. Marthoma died on 26 January 1816 and was interred at St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral, PuthencavuSt. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral, PuthencavuSt. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral, Puthencavu is one of the important churches in South India, located at a village named Puthencavu , Alappuzha district in Kerala state of India...
. The establishment of Seminary and the rise of Pulikootil Joseph Ramban who was in charge of it weakened the prestige and power of the Mar Thoma considerably.
- Mar Thoma IXMar Thoma IX-See also:* Indian Orthodox Church*Jacobite Syrian Church*Mar Thoma Church*Syrian Malabar Nasrani*Saint Thomas Christians*Christianity in India*List of Catholicoi of the East and Malankara Metropolitans*List of Syrian Malabar Nasranis-For further reading:...
(1816–1817) – Consecrated by Marthoma VIII without the consent of the people. So he retired to Kadamattom ChurchKadamattom ChurchKadamattom Church is one of the ancient churches in India. The church is situated near to Kolenchery town near Cochin, India.The church is believed to have established in the 9th Century AD. Kadamattom church is an integral part of the syrian Orthodox Church in India...
and spent the rest of his days there.
Until Marthoma IX, all Metropolitans came from the Pakalomattom family. The rise of Pulikottil Joseph Ramban changed this and the people identified him as their new leader. With him the tradition of Marthoma Metrans from Pakalomattom family came to an end.
- Mar Thoma X (Malankara Metropolitan) (1816–1816) – Also known as Pulikottil, Joseph Mar Dionysius was consecrated by Mar Philoxenos II of the Malabar Independent Syrian Church (Thozhiyoor Sabha). He died on 25 November 1816 and was buried at Seminary Church.
The new bishops after Marthoma IX came from different families and they came to be known more popularly with the title Malankara Metropolitans rather than as Mar Thoma. Malankara Metropolitans started to be recognised by the secular rulers of Travancore and Cochin kingdoms, by a Royal Proclamation. Nevertheless the title Marthoma continues to be used by the Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
19th century
In 1795 the British captured Malabar, Kerala. In 1806, the Rev. Claudius Buchanan, an Anglican priest, visited the ancient Church of St.Thomas in India. In March 1815, Malankara Church opened a Seminary at KottayamKottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
and in the next year, Anglican missionaries arrived to join this institution. Soon, however, the missionaries began to impose Protestant doctrines on the seminarians. As a result the Malankara church discontinued the association.
This eventually gave rise to the division of the community into three bodies.
- One of them set out to bring about major reforms in the liturgy and practices of the Church, but failed. After about half a century of conflict within the Church, this body withdrew, and organized itself as the Mar Thoma ChurchMar Thoma ChurchThe Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church also known as the Mar Thoma Church is a Christian denomination based in the state of Kerala in southwestern India. It has an entirely different identity when compared with other Churches in India. Most Christian churches around the world are divided into...
. - A smaller body of the Malankara Church opted to join with the missionaries and be absorbed into the Anglican Church.
- A large majority of the community continued in the Malankara Orthodox Church without accepting the reforms.
The London Missionary Service was active in India. Bishop Norton inaugurated the first Anglican Church in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
at Thalavady in the house of one Itty Matthan Panickar. This church was later known as Church Missionary Society and after Indian Independence it became the Church of South India
Church of South India
The Church of South India is the successor of the Church of England in India. It came into being in 1947 as a union of Anglican and Protestant churches in South India. With a membership of over 3.8 million, it is India's second largest Christian church after the Roman Catholic Church in India...
.
In 1825 to 1855 H.H.Philipose mar Dionisius 4th [Cheppad mar Dionisius ]lead the Malankara Church.
20th century
In 1912, the Catholicate of the East was revived in India. The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church wanted to retain its autocephalous nature. It appealed to Patriarch Ignatius Abdul Masiha II of the Syriac Orthodox Church, who ordained Murimattathil Paulose Mar Ivanios as Baseliose Paulose, Catholicos of the East. The ceremony was held at St. Mary's Church, Niranam in 1912.Hierarchy, distribution and doctrine
The spiritual regional head of the church is the Catholicos of the EastCatholicos of the East
Catholicos of the East is an ecclesiastical title used historically by the Church of the East and the Syriac Orthodox Church, and now used in successor churches. The title Catholicos, or "universal leader", is used in several Eastern Christian churches and implies a degree of sovereignty and...
and the temporal head over church assets is the Malankara Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
. Since 1934, both the titles vest in one person. The official title of the head of the Church is the "Catholicos of the East and the Malankara Metropolitan
Catholicos of the East
Catholicos of the East is an ecclesiastical title used historically by the Church of the East and the Syriac Orthodox Church, and now used in successor churches. The title Catholicos, or "universal leader", is used in several Eastern Christian churches and implies a degree of sovereignty and...
". The present Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan
Catholicos of the East
Catholicos of the East is an ecclesiastical title used historically by the Church of the East and the Syriac Orthodox Church, and now used in successor churches. The title Catholicos, or "universal leader", is used in several Eastern Christian churches and implies a degree of sovereignty and...
is Baselios MarThoma Paulose II, who was enthroned on 1 November 2010, at Parumala Church by the Holy Synod. Paulose II is the 112th Catholicos of the East in the lineage of Apostle Thomas; 7th Catholicos after its re-instatement in India and 20th Malankara Metropolitan.
The church accepts only the first three Ecumenical Synods
Ecumenical council
An ecumenical council is a conference of ecclesiastical dignitaries and theological experts convened to discuss and settle matters of Church doctrine and practice....
like all other Oriental Orthodox Churches.
The church primarily uses the liturgy of Saint James, as does its sister church, the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch. The Church in India was connected to the Church of East through the Catholicos of the East, existed in Edessa
Edessa, Mesopotamia
Edessa is the Greek name of an Aramaic town in northern Mesopotamia, as refounded by Seleucus I Nicator. For the modern history of the city, see Şanlıurfa.-Names:...
, Selucia, Tigris
Tigris
The Tigris River is the eastern member of the two great rivers that define Mesopotamia, the other being the Euphrates. The river flows south from the mountains of southeastern Turkey through Iraq.-Geography:...
and Mosul
Mosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
in various intervals. Today the Church conducts liturgy in West Syriac, Malayalam, Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
, and English.
The church has theological seminaries at Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
and Nagpur
Nagpur
Nāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...
. The Church has dioceses and churches in most parts of India as well as in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Western Europe, Africa, Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
nations, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.
The name Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church refers to St.Thomas Christians of India that come under the Catholicate of the East whose Supreme Head is His Holiness The Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan, with its headquarters at Devalokam, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
Liturgy
Since the 17th century, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church uses the Syrian Orthodox Liturgy, which belongs to the Antiochene liturgical traditionAntiochene Rite
Antiochene Rite designates the family of liturgies originally used in the Patriarchate of Antioch.-Liturgies in the Antiochene Rite:The family of liturgies include the Apostolic Constitutions; then that of St. James in Greek, the Syriac Liturgy of St. James, and the other Syriac Anaphoras. The line...
. The East Syrian (Persian), Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
, Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
, Georgian
Georgian people
The Georgians are an ethnic group that have originated in Georgia, where they constitute a majority of the population. Large Georgian communities are also present throughout Russia, European Union, United States, and South America....
, Maronite liturgies also belong to the same liturgical family. In the first half of the 5th century, the Antiochene Church adopted the anaphora of Jerusalem, known under the name of St James, the disciple. In the 4th and 5th centuries, the liturgical language of Jerusalem and Antioch was Greek. Therefore, the original form of St James liturgy was composed in Greek.
Following the Council of Chalcedon
Council of Chalcedon
The Council of Chalcedon was a church council held from 8 October to 1 November, 451 AD, at Chalcedon , on the Asian side of the Bosporus. The council marked a significant turning point in the Christological debates that led to the separation of the church of the Eastern Roman Empire in the 5th...
(451), the Eastern Church was divided into two, one group accepting the council and the other opposing it. Both groups continued to use the Greek version of St James. The Byzantine emperor Justin
Justin I
Justin I was Byzantine Emperor from 518 to 527. He rose through the ranks of the army and ultimately became its Emperor, in spite of the fact he was illiterate and almost 70 years old at the time of accession...
(518–527) expelled the non-Chalcedonians from Antioch and they took refuge in the Syriac speaking Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
on the Roman-Persian Border (modern Eastern Syria, Iraq and South East Turkey). Gradually, the Antiochene liturgical rites were translated into Syriac. New elements such as Syriac hymns were introduced into it.
Mar Gregorios of Jerusalem
Mar Gregorios Abdul Jaleel
Mor Gregorios Abdul Jaleel Bawa was an ethnic Assyrian Syriac Orthodox Bishop of Jerusalem from 1664 until his death. He is chiefly remembered for his 1665 mission to India, in which he established ties between the newly-independent Malankara Church and the Syriac Orthodox church. He is venerated...
came to Malankara in 1665 and introduced Syriac Orthodox liturgical rites. The most striking characteristic of the Antiochene liturgy is the large number of anaphoras
Anaphora (liturgy)
The Anaphora is the most solemn part of the Divine liturgy, Mass, or other Christian Communion rite where the offerings of bread and wine are consecrated as the body and blood of Christ. This is the usual name for this part of the Liturgy in Eastern Christianity, but it is more often called the...
(Order of the celebration of the Eucharist). About 80 are known and about a dozen are used in India. All of them have been composed following the model of Liturgy of St James
Liturgy of St James
The Liturgy of Saint James is the oldest complete form of the Eastern varieties of the Divine Liturgy still in use among certain Christian churches....
.
Catholicate
The word "Catholicos" means "The General Head". It can be considered as equivalent to "Universal Bishop". There were only three ranks of priesthood in the early Church: Episcopos (Bishop), Priest, and Deacon. By the end of the 3rd century certain bishops of certain important cities in the Roman empire gained pre-eminence over other bishops and they came to be known as Metropolitans. The Ecumenical councils of the 4th century recognized the supreme authority of these Metropolitans. By the 5th century, the Bishops in major cities like Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch etc. gained control over the churches in the surrounding cities. Gradually they became the heads of each independent regional church and were called Patriarch which means common father. The same rank in the Churches outside the Roman Empire was called Catholicos. There were three ancient Catholicates in the Church before the 5th century. They were the Catholicate of the East, the Catholicate of Armenia and the Catholicate of Georgia. None of these ranks and titles are the monopoly of any church. Any Apostolic and national church has the authority to declare and call its head, Catholicos, Pope, or Patriarch.St.Thomas established the church in India and is recognized as its first Head or Catholicos.
The reign of the Archdeacons started from the 4th century and lasted until the 16th century. The third stage started when the archdeacon was elevated to the position of a Bishop by the community with the name Marthoma I in 1653. Since then the head of the community was the Marthoma Metrans and later the position was developed to Malankara Metropolitan with more recognition.
In 1912, the Catholicate of the East was relocated to India, and Baselios Paulose I was seated on the Honorary Apostolic Throne of St.Thomas as the Catholicos of the East.
The Headquarters of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, named Devalokam, is located at Kottayam, in Kerala.
It is the official headquarters of the Catholicos Of The East who reigns on the Supreme Throne of St. Thomas, the Apostle, and was established on 31 December 1951.
The new Aramana which was built in 1961 was inaugurated by the visiting Armenian Catholicos Vazgen I
Vazgen I
His Holiness Vazgen I was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1955 and 1994, in one of the longest reigns of the Armenian Catholicoi. A native of Romania, he began his career as a philosopher, before becoming a Doctor of Theology and a member of the local Armenian clergy...
.
A portion of the holy relics of St. Thomas, the Apostle of India and Founder of the Church, is kept in the Catholicate Chapel. The mortal remains of Baselious Geevarghese II, Baselious Augen I, Baselious Marthoma Mathews I, and Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios Metropolitan are entombed in this Chapel.
List of Catholicoi
The Catholicos lineage starts from the Apostle Thomas, continuing with the bishops of EdessaEdessa, Mesopotamia
Edessa is the Greek name of an Aramaic town in northern Mesopotamia, as refounded by Seleucus I Nicator. For the modern history of the city, see Şanlıurfa.-Names:...
and Archbishops in Selucia-Ctesiphon. In 410 AD, Isaac first used the title Catholicos. Since then, the Catholicos has claimed jurisdiction over all Christians of the East outside the Roman Empire.
This Catholicate resided in Persia until the end of the 19th century. In 1912 , the senior Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch
relocated the Catholicate to India. Catholicos Didymos I is the 111th Catholicos sitting on the throne of Saint Thomas. The Orthodox Catholicos is known also known as Maphrian
Maphrian
The Maphrian was historically the prelate in the Syriac Orthodox Church who ranked second in the hierarchy after the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch. The Maphrian, whose title literally means "one who bears fruit", i.e. "consecrator", was originally the head of the church in Persia and the...
to distinguish this church from the schismatic lineage formed in the latter half of the 5th century due to Nestorian influence.
To see the lineage of Catholicos: List of Catholicos of the East
- Baselios Paulose I (1912–1914) (Catholicos of the East)
- Baselios Geevarghese I (1925–1928) (Catholicos of the East)
- Baselios Geevarghese II (Catholicos of the East, 1929–1964 & Malankara Metropolitan, 1934–1964)
- Baselios Augen I (1964–1975) (Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan)
- Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I (1975–1991) (Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan)
- Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews II (1991–2005) (Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan)
- Baselios Mar Thoma Didymos I (2005–2010) (Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan)
- Baselius Mar Thoma Paulose II (2010 – present) (Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan)
Saints of the Church
- Parumala Thirumeni (Gheevarghese Mor Gregorious) (Declared by the Holy Synod, in 1947, by Catholicos Baselios Gheevarghese II)
- Eldho Mor BaseliosEldho Mor BaseliosEldho Mor Baselios or Maphryono Mor Baselios Yeldho or Eldho Bava , was born in a village called Kooded near Mosul in Iraq where Morthsmooni and her 7 children suffered martyrdom...
of Kothamangalam (Declared by the Holy Synod, in 1947, by Catholicos Baselios Gheevarghese II) - Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril (Declared by the Holy Synod, in 2003 by Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Mathews II)
Current Metropolitans
- Baselios Marthoma Didymus I (Valiya Bava)
- Baselius Mar Thoma Paulose II (Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan)
- Dr. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios
- Mathews Mar Barnabas
- Thomas Mar AthanasiusThomas Mar Athanasius-ChengannurH.G. Thomas Mar Athanasius was consecrated as a bishop of Malanakara Orthodox Syrian Church on 15 May 1985 by His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews I...
- Geevarghese Mar Ivanios
- Dr. Thomas Mar Athanasius
- Dr. Yuhanon Mar Meletius
- Kuriakose Mar Cleemis
- Zachariah Mar Anthonios
- Dr. Mathews Mar Severius
- Job Mar Philoxenos
- Geevarghese Mar Coorilos
- Paulose Mar Pachomius
- Dr. Yakoob Mar Irenaeus
- Zachariah Mar Nicholovos
- Dr. Gabriel Mar Gregorios
- Dr. Zachariah Mar Theophilos
- Dr. Yuhanon Mar Chrysostomos
- Yuhanon Mar Policarpos
- Mathews Mar Theodosius
- Joseph Mar Dionysius
- Abraham Mar Ephiphanios
- Dr. Mathews Mar Timothios
- Alexios Mar Eusebios
- Dr. Yuhanon Mar Dioscoros
- Dr. Youhanon Mar Dimitrios
- Dr. Yuhanon Mar Theodoros
- Yakob Mar Elias
- Joshua Mar Nicodemus
- Dr. Zachariah Mar Aprem
- Dr. Geevarghese Mar Julius
- Dr. Abraham Mar Seraphim
Theological seminaries
- Orthodox Theological Seminary (Old Syrian Seminary or Pazhaya Seminary), Kottayam
- Nagpur St. Thomas Orthodox Theological SeminaryNagpur St. Thomas Orthodox Theological SeminaryThe St. Thomas Orthodox Theological Seminary is gradually growing as a centre of the Orthodox Church in Central and North India. Not only does it cater the needs of the diaspora population, but it also creates a new vision about the mission of the Church in a multi-lingual and multi-religious context...
(St.Thomas Theological Seminary, Nagpur)
Ecumenical relations
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church takes an active role in various ecumenical activities at national and international levels. It was a founding member of the World Council of ChurchesWorld Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
.
Various theologians were involved in negotiations between the Oriental Orthodox and the Byzantine church
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
es. The Indian Orthodox Church participated in the Ecumenical Council of Oriental Orthodox Churches held in Addis Ababa, in 1965.
Other organizations to which the church belongs are
- Faith and Order Commission
- Christian Conference of Asia.
- Global Christian Forum
Monasteries of the Church
- Vallikkattu Dayara, Vakathanam
- St.Thomas Dayara, Bhilai
- Mount Tabor Dayara, Pathanapuram
- Mar Kuriakose Dayara, Pampady
- Bethany Ashram, Perunad
- Christushishiya Ashram (Thadakam), Coimbatore
- Mar Kuriakose Ashram, Mylapra
- Mar Basil Dayara, Pathanamthitta
- St.George Dayara, Othara
- St.Pauls Ashram, Puthuppady
- Bethlehem Ashram, Chengamanad
- Chayalode Ashram, Pathanmthitta
- Holy Trinity Ashram, Ranni
- Mar Baselios Ashram, Njaliakuzhy
- Bethel Ashram, Kuttikonam
- Calvary Ashram, Pattazhi
- St.Thomas Ashram, Sooranad
- Mount Carmel Ashram, Kallada
- St.Thomas Ashram, Attapadi
- St.Thomas Dayara, Vettikal
- Thrikkunnathu Seminary, Aluva (Headquarters of Angamali Diocese)
- Mount Horeb SasthamcottaMount Horeb SasthamcottaMount Horeb Ashram is situated in Sasthamkotta near the Sasthamkotta lake. It belongs to the Indian Orthodox Church.The tomb of the VIth CATHOLICOS of the Indian Orthodox Church, H.H Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews II is in this ashram....
(Tomb of Baselious Marthoma Mathews II)
Founded by St.Thomas
- St.Mary's Church, Niranam
- Thiruvithancode church
- Arthat Church KunnamkulamKunnamkulamKunnamkulam is a municipal town situated in the Thrissur District of Kerala in India, spread over an area of 6.96 km2. It is an old commercial town, with a history of more than 300 years, famous for its printing and book binding industry...
– Arthat was historically known as Palayur
Tomb Churches
- St.Peter's & St.Paul's Syrian Orthodox Church, Parumala
- Pampady Dayara
- Thevalakkara Mar Abo church
- Kallada Valiyapalli
- Relics of Julius Mar Alvares, St. Marys Orthodox Church, Panjim, Goa
- St. Marys Orthodox Cathedral,Puthencavu
- st.Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Kadampanad. http://kadampanadstthomascathedral.com/
- St.George Orthodox Valiyapally, Cheppad. http://www.cheppadvaliyapalli.com/
Churches with Historical Importance
- Mulanthuruthy Marthoman CathedralMulanthuruthy Marthoman ChurchMulanthuruthy Marthoman Church is located at Mulanthuruthy in Ernakulam district of Kerala.This church is among the ancient and famous churches of the Malankara Church and a pilgrimage center of Syrian Christians...
- Kottayam CheriapallyKottayam CheriapallyThe Kottayam Cheriyapally is one of the oldest churches in Kerala, India. Built in 1579, the church is well preserved. The architectural style of the church is European, with galleries, pillars, cornices and pediments...
- Pampakuda Cheriapally (St.Thomas Church)
- Kallooppara St. Marys Orthodox ChurchKallooppara St. Marys Orthodox ChurchSt. Mary's Orthodox Church is situated at the heart of a small village called Kallooppara, Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India. It is one of the oldest and renowned churches in Kerala and a priced possession of Malankara Church...
- Vakathanam Vallikkattu Dayra
- Paliyekkara Palli, Thiruvalla
- Kadeesa Syrian Church, Kollam
- Kadamattom ChurchKadamattom ChurchKadamattom Church is one of the ancient churches in India. The church is situated near to Kolenchery town near Cochin, India.The church is believed to have established in the 9th Century AD. Kadamattom church is an integral part of the syrian Orthodox Church in India...
- Puthupally Palli
- Coonan Cross OathCoonan Cross OathThe Coonan Cross Oath , taken on January 3, 1653, was a public avowal by members of the Saint Thomas Christian community of Kerala, India that they would not submit to Portuguese dominance in ecclesiastical and secular life...
Memorial Holy Cross, St. George Orthodox Church, Mattancherry - St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Thevelakara
- Pazhanji Palli
- St.Mary's Orthodox Church, Kandanad (Kandanad Martha Mariam Pally)
- St.George Orthodox Church, Chandanappally
- St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Kadampanadu (Marthoman pilgrim center, Kadampanadu, Adoor)
- St.Mary's Orthodox Church, West Kallada.(Kallada Valiya Pally)
- St.Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, Thumpamon.(Thumpamon Valiya Pally)
Dioceses
- Angamaly Diocese
- Chengannur Diocese
- Idukki Diocese
- Kandanad East Diocese
- Kandanad West Diocese
- Kollam Diocese
- Kunnamkulam Diocese
- Kottayam Diocese
- Malabar DioceseMalabar DioceseHistory of DioceseThe Malabar Diocese, which has extended in the western districts of Kerala, was formed in 1953. Paulose Mar Sevarios and Pathrose Mar Osthathios have executed its administration at different times. From 11 November 1966 Thomas Mar Timotheos became the diocesan head and now...
- Mavelikara Diocese
- Niranam Diocese
- Sulthan Bathery Diocese
- Thumpamon Diocese
- Trichur Diocese
- Trivandrum Diocese
- Ahmedabad Diocese
- Bangalore Diocese
- Delhi Diocese
- Kolkata DioceseKolkata Orthodox DioceseThe Kolkata Diocese is a is one of the 22 dioceses of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.-History:This diocese was part of the Outside Kerala diocese till 1975. In 1975, it was included in the newly created Madras Diocese. In 1979 the present diocese of Calcutta came into existence...
- Madras DioceseMadras DioceseThe Diocese of Madras of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church was consisted of present Calcutta and Madras dioceses with H.G. Dr. Stephanos Mar Theodosius as the first diocesan Metropolitan. Present diocese of Madras was formed on 1979 and the diocese Metropolitan was late H.G. Zachariah Mar Dionysius...
- Mumbai Diocese
- Nilakal Diocese
- North East America
- Diocese of South-West AmericaDiocese of South-West AmericaThe Diocese of South-West America is a diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. Its headquarters are in Missouri City, Texas, in Greater Houston. The diocese covers churches several U.S. states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana,...
- UK Europe & Africa
- Kochin Diocese
- Kottayam Central Diocese
See also
- Brahmavar (Goan) Orthodox ChurchBrahmavar (Goan) Orthodox ChurchBrahmavar Orthodox Church is a part of theIndian Orthodox Church. This is a uniate faction from the Catholic Church formed under the leadership of Bishop Antonio Francisco Xavier Alvares in 1889 AD....
- List of Orthodox Churches
- List of Catholicos of the East
External links
- Official website of the Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Church
- Official website of the H.H. Moran Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II – Catholicose of the East
- Official Malankara Orthodox Church News (Catholicate News – Formerly Gregorian News)
- Official Malankara Orthodox Church Radio (Gregorian Radio)
- Official Malankara Orthodox Church TV (Gregorian TV)
- Malankara Orthodox Videos Portal (Gregorian Videos)
- Malankara Orthodox Audios Portal (Gregorian Audios)
- Gregorian Voice